NBAD appoints Group Chief Investment Officer

The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), the Number One Bank in the UAE, has appointed Claude-Henri Chavanon as the Group Chief Investment Officer and Head of the Investment Group of NBAD.

The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), the Number One Bank in the UAE, has appointed Claude-Henri Chavanon as the Group Chief Investment Officer and Head of the Investment Group of NBAD.

Mr. Chavanon, who has served as the Chief Investment Officer of NBAD Private Bank (Suisse) SA since 2007, will relocate to Abu Dhabi from Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Chavanon has over 15 years of experience in investment management and business development across various asset classes.

“Claude-Henri Chavanon is an experienced banker; a resourceful tactician who will advance NBAD’s investment strategies with innovation and vigor,” says Rüdiger Von Wedel, the Senior General Manager of Global Wealth of NBAD. “Claude-Henri was selected as NBAD Chief Investment officer based on his achievements with NBAD Private Bank (Suisse) SA, and we have every confidence that he will match his success in his new position.”

Mr. Chavanon will oversee NBAD’s investment strategies and vehicles. He will serve in the Bank’s various investments management committees, and direct and manages the delivery of investment products across all NBAD business lines. He also leads the NBAD House View as well as the strategic and tactical investment asset allocation for use by clients’ businesses.

Moreover, Mr. Chavanon chairs the Bank’s Investment Products Committee and Investment Forum Committee to enhance NBAD’s investment products platform offering with a view to sourcing, selecting and distributing a broad range of investment products for domestic, regional and international markets.

“I welcome the new challenge to be the NBAD’s Chief Investment Officer and Head of Investment Group and am very excited to contribute to the Bank’s enterprising goals,” says Mr. Chavanon. “NBAD’s ambitious global growth plans are matched by its robust financial and brand standings, and further strengthened by being from United Arab Emirates, which is today one of the most dynamic economies and markets of the world.”

NBAD, one of the largest UAE banks by assets, is the first UAE Bank to break US$1 billion annual net profits, a feat it accomplished in 2011. Since 2009 NBAD has been ranked in the World’s 50 Safest Banks, for four straight years, and it is the highest ranked Middle East bank in the list, published annually by Global Finance.

Mr. Chavanon holds Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Finance from University of Geneva. He replaced Alan Durrant who left NBAD recently.